The Great Depression- A Story Worth Telling Again - Dr Alex Klein

Dr Barry Blight, Lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the University of Kent, discusses the use of lanthanide phosphorescence to create a Turn OFF sensor for bacterial spores such as Bacillus Anthracis (used as the carrier for the Anthrax bioweapon). Using lanthanide phosphorescence, Dr Blight and his research group have repurposed a well-known organic light-emitting diode (OLED) material that exhibits a brilliant red emission. In the presence of dipicolinic acid (DPA), a ~15% biomass component in bacterial spores such as Bacillus Anthracis, the bright red emission is completely quenched making this material an ideal Turn OFF sensor for bacterial spores.